Installing a digital command control system allows for track occupancy detection and the use of signals on your model railroad. In this video, modeler and DCC expert Steve Barkley discusses block occupancy detectors and signal controllers.

Steve explains step-by-step how to wire your layout for controlling signals and block occupancy detection. The signal card manufacturer supplies a wiring kit needed to control the signals around the layout. Refer to your manufacturer’s instructions on how to program signals. The block occupancy detector is the device that tells LocoNet whether the track has a train in it or not. Both devices, the signal operating card and the block occupancy detector need to be connected to LocoNet and to the command station.

Once the block occupancy detectors are installed on your layout, you will need to modify your cars so that the wheels are detected. Steve equips all of his unlighted passenger cars and freight cars with resistor wheel sets. They can be purchased at local hobby dealers or by mail order.

In previous videos, Steve has covered everything from DCC components, computer control, power supply, connecting the command station, and connecting to your computer. They are worth checking out if you’re interested in learning more about DCC systems.

Who knew adding intrigue to your model railroad scenes could be as simple as spray painting a couple colors on the backdrop? Sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong! You may not have known that with just a store-bought template and two cans of model railroad spray paint (or regular spray paint), you can

Not every stop along a major railroad is complete with town center, service station and saloon–some components of a railway are just small stopovers en route to the final destination. This is the case for Cooper, a long passing siding that connects the main lines of C&S Railway. In our next segment covering the branch

There are a number of ways to add realism to your model railroad layouts, and one of the easiest and most useful is to create lifelike model railroad backdrop scenery. With a well made backdrop, the elements of your layout appear to continue off into the horizon and convince the viewer that there’s more to

When it comes to painting clouds and other aspects of weather backdrops for your model railroad scenes, there are a few different ways to achieve the mood you want. Using just a couple basic colors and reusable cloud templates that are available at any craft store, you can add impressive depth to your backdrops and